Artist Talk: Tending the Flame with Bryan David Griffith

An Artist Talk with Bryan David Griffith offers deeper insight into the artist’s process and evolving vision.

Join us for deeper insight into Bryan David Griffith's process and vision for artist talk on closing day of Tending the Flame. Tending the FlameDuring the long nights of winter, cultures around the world have long gathered around the warm light of fire and imbued it with ritual. Tending the Flame is one man’s attempt to keep the spark of creativity burning during a metaphorical time of darkness. Artist Bryan David Griffith uses fire as a medium to plumb the relationship between nature and humanity. The resulting works juxtapose geometric forms with organic energy to convey themes of attempted control, disruption, loss, and healing. Griffith draws on his experiences learning about wildfire from fire ecologists, beginning with the 2015 project Fires of Change, sponsored by the Southwest Fire Science Consortium, and continuing with additional research for his solo museum exhibitions in Arizona, California, and Oregon. About the ArtistInterdisciplinary artist Bryan David Griffith explores complex social and environmental issues using simple forms and materials. He earned a degree in engineering and worked for an international management consulting firm before he resigned to follow his conscience. He bought an old van to live out of as he toured the country for years building a new career as an artist. When Griffith’s van broke down in Flagstaff, he fell in love with the town, and then his wife, Tasha. He never left. Griffith is a past winner and four-time finalist for Flagstaff’s Viola Award for Excellence in Visual Arts. His work is held in a number of permanent collections including the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, Phoenix Art Museum, University of Michigan Museum of Art, Center for Creative Photography, and Fort Wayne Museum of Art. His recent solo exhibitions include the High Desert Museum, Fresno Art Museum, and Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum.

Parking: Paid metered street parking. Handicap parking spaces in the lot behind the Switzer building.